Powder of Cumin Greater (Nicholas)
Pulvis Diacyminum Magnus
Powder of Cumin Greater
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Nicolas Myrepsus
| Herb Name | Latin | Amount * |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared Cumin * | Cuminum cyminum | 1 oz.,1 scr. |
| Cinnamon | Cinnamonum zeylanicum | 2 drams ea. |
| Clove | Eugenia caryophyllus | 1 dr, 18 gr ea. |
| Lovage seed | Levisticum officinale | 1 dr., 2 scr. ea. |
| Bishop’s weed seed | Ammi majus | 2 1⁄2 scr. ea. |
| Galangal | Alpina officinarum | |
| Savory | Satureja montana | |
| Calamint | Calamintha officinalis | |
| Ginger | Zingiber officinalis | |
| Black Pepper | Piper nigrum | |
| Long Pepper | Piper longum | |
| Spikenard | Nardostachys jatamansi | |
| Nutmeg | Myristica fragrans |
gr. = grain, scr. = scruple, dr. = dram
* Cumin is prepared by steeping in Vinegar for 24 hours, then drying
Preparation:
Powder; it can be made into an Electuary with 3 times its weight of Honey, or into a confection with a similar quantity of Sugar.
Function:
Clears Cold and Wind, moves Qi, promotes Digestion, opens Obstructions, warms the Stomach, Bowels, Lungs and Kidneys
Use:
“especially valid for coldness of the Chest and Stomach, Headache, and relieves intestinal wind. He miraculously manages Quartan Fevers”. (Nicholas, Antidotarium)
1. Wind Colic
2. Cold Pain of the Stomach or Bowels
3. Indigestion, Bloating associated with Cold and Damp
4. Warms and Strengthens the Stomach
5. Hiccough, Belching
6. Tightness of the Sinews associated with Cold, Wind and Damp
7. Cough and difficulty Breathing from Cold and Phlegm
8. Used for Cold pain of the Kidneys
9. Promotes Menstruation and relieves Pain associated with Cold obstruction
10. Promotes Fertility in Cold and Damp bodies
11. Quartan Fever
Dose:
1 scruple–1 dram in wine; of the Electuary, as much as a Walnut was given:
Cautions:
None noted
Modifications:
Similar Formulas:
Powder of Anise Compound (Dianisum)
‘It heats the Stomach and Bowels, expels wind exceedingly, helps the Wind Colic, helps digestion hindered by cold or wind, is an admirable remedy for wind in the Bowels, and helps Quartan Agues’. (Culpeper)
Wirtzung (1598) said ‘This powder is good for the diseases of the sinews, for a heavy Breath, for the Cough, for the Stomach, and it opens all Obstructions’. He also stated: ‘The Italian women do highly commend the Electuary Diaciminum, if one do take every morning one quarter of an ounce of it, then will the terms [menstruation] come within the space of a month as they affirm: it does make fruitful and strengthens the Stomach’.
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